Chinese leader Xi Jinping extended a warm welcome to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the two leaders met in Beijing for a two-day state visit. The meeting marked the fourth time the two leaders have met face-to-face since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin was greeted in the Chinese capital with a grand reception, including a military band serenade and a multiple-gun salute outside the Great Hall of the People. The red carpet treatment symbolized the strong ties between China and Russia.
The meeting between Xi and Putin comes at a critical time as international concern grows over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The United States and Europe have been pressuring China to ensure that its exports to Russia do not support the Kremlin's war efforts.
White House officials have raised concerns about the significant support that China is allegedly providing to Russia's defense industry. They have pointed to items such as machine tools, drone and turbojet engines, and microelectronics as examples of goods that China may be supplying to Russia.
In response, Beijing has dismissed these accusations as 'groundless' and emphasized that the trade and economic exchanges between China and Russia are normal and legitimate.
The meeting between Xi and Putin is seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss bilateral relations, regional stability, and global issues of mutual interest. Both China and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their strategic partnership and cooperation in various fields.
